Personal Work: Selected Stories

Personal Illustrations

We as humans have an affinity with stories and have been telling them for thousands of years. Although the context, speed, availability and format have changed over the years, we are still able to connect through our stories.

Creation of personal work without any restriction provides me with an outlet between the projects and helps me avoid repetitiveness.

Fisherman’s Discovery

“The fish were unusually plentiful in this area and had a golden tint to their scales, something must have scared off the predators. However peaceful the old pier seemed to be, there must be a reason why the locals did not come here. He was beginning to sense a gaze on his back…”

Fedosiya

“As a descendant of an ancient line of sorcerers, she is well known in the secret circles of the Upper City. Her father used to advise the Emperor with his mysterious rituals which were always heavily critiqued by his subjects. When her father reunited with his ancestors, his duties passed on to her and she remained loyal to His Highness for decades, continuing her father’s work by using the same exact amphora that has been in her family for generations.

After the Emperor mysteriously got ill and fell in an eternal sleep, his son, took over the throne. He had campaigned openly against any kind of magic in past and banished this ‘old hag’ from the palace as his first royal act. If it was not for his deep childhood fears he probably would have had her executed.

However, some of the prominent advisors to the throne remained loyal to Fedosiya. They visit her regularly in the hideout on the edge of the forest and come in search of ‘wisdom from the parallel worlds’, as they call it. The same wisdom that once was available to the Emperor is now her weapon against the royal heir.

She had sworn to her father to continue his work, and will keep the promise at any cost.”

Admiral Swaab

“He needed to escape the monotony of the retired rich life. Her old wining was becoming unbearable. Even the idea of living most of the time in a pressurized suit full of liquid for the next six months seemed more pleasant than spending one more night playing bingo in the central hall.

Now he is determined for adventure, and will bring his decades of experience to the battle as the commander of his ship in the armada of Kugu.”

Unexpected Allies

“The Short Tusk never believed in the Ancients. Old legends talked about them helping his people hunt large game with Light Spears many Moons ago, but vanishing to never return after the Plain One’s arrival. He never believed it though, dismissing it as ‘old witch’s tales for youngsters’.

As the attacks became regular, clan’s best hunters became also the best warriors. He had earned his name seventeen Suns ago, when he ripped out the side tusk of the Zavinian Bore during the New Sun hunt. This legendary hunt challenge was never met by a hunter from his clan and gave ‘The Tusk’ a fierce reputation.

Now, in the face of a time endangering both of their peoples, he must interact with and even trust(!) an Ancient. Who could have known that the legends were true and moreover, who could expect that these metal creatures had a sense of humor?”

Cauliflower

Personal illustration

The Skull Tribe

“Every member of the tribe is required to kill an animal to announce their maturity. The Stories of the First Kill, were legendary amongst the elders. The skull of the first kill stays with the tribesmen for the rest of their lives and is worn as a mask during the religious rituals. It is believed that the skulls will scare away the evil spirits that try to disrupt the ritual.”

Exploration of character design around shamanic cultures is a reoccurring theme in my personal work.

Forest Love

Personal Illustration about the contradictory nature of most relationships.

ZOSIMA

As the Shamanic Leader of the Far North, his soul task is to ensure the continuation of the Ancient Legacy of his Tribe.

He serves the old Gods of Aya. With his rituals and brews he prepares the survivors for the defense against the relentless attacks of The Sand Order.

Aralez the Demon Hunter

“He must keep the demon inside under control, for it gives him the power to prevail in battle, but will consume him once it gets the chance.

Fighting and hunting is easy, keeping the inner demon in control is easy, but doing it simultaneously, is the real struggle.”